National Lampoon CEO arrested for alleged $200 million Ponzi scheme

Timothy Durham, the president and chief executive office of National Lampoon, Inc. — the comedy company that brought you such movies as Animal House and Vacation — was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly perpetrating a $200-million Ponzi scheme involving a business loan company, according to Reuters. Durham, 48, and two former executives at Fair Financial Services — a company that Durham co-owned — were charged on Tuesday with wire and securities fraud in a federal indictment. The charges allege that Durham and one of his co-defendants used investor funds to “maintain their lifestyles and to pay for personal expenses.” When contacted by EW, a National Lampoon spokesperson declined to comment.